Hi,
I am currently renting out a property for the first time, it's rented on an assured shorthold tenancy which is fixed for 12 months.
Everything was going smoothly until now 9 months in the tenants are refusing to pay rent ( for the past 5 weeks) and creating a lot of fuss about things such as cracks in garden shed door,building bricks at back of garden,usual wear and tear in house eg small cracks in ceiling, which were all therewhen they moved in 9 months ago. The property IMO is safe and legally meets the rental standard and I have offered to do the things they have suggested but they are refusing to communicate at all with me apart from via email. When I went round to check the things they thought needed doing, I was met with verbal abuse and threatened to be punched in the face.
I think they are finding it difficult to pay rent and hence they are trying to make out that the house is not fit to live in.
The rent has continuously been paid late and tbh with the lack of cooperation and the fact that the 'problems' they have highlighted now have been there when they moved in- and they didn't effect them then- I am reluctant to carry out costly repairs. They are unhappy with this and want to bring surveyors etc to the house which I have said they are welcome to.
My question is can I end the AST agreement before 12 months, as in the contract they signed it mentions that the agreement will come to an end if any part of rent is outstanding for 30 days or more. Could I end it and serve them a section 21 notice to get them out? Or should I wait for 8 weeks arrears and then go for a section 8?
It's very worrying as they seemed to be clued up on everything and I feel at the end of my tether now. Please help!!
I am currently renting out a property for the first time, it's rented on an assured shorthold tenancy which is fixed for 12 months.
Everything was going smoothly until now 9 months in the tenants are refusing to pay rent ( for the past 5 weeks) and creating a lot of fuss about things such as cracks in garden shed door,building bricks at back of garden,usual wear and tear in house eg small cracks in ceiling, which were all therewhen they moved in 9 months ago. The property IMO is safe and legally meets the rental standard and I have offered to do the things they have suggested but they are refusing to communicate at all with me apart from via email. When I went round to check the things they thought needed doing, I was met with verbal abuse and threatened to be punched in the face.
I think they are finding it difficult to pay rent and hence they are trying to make out that the house is not fit to live in.
The rent has continuously been paid late and tbh with the lack of cooperation and the fact that the 'problems' they have highlighted now have been there when they moved in- and they didn't effect them then- I am reluctant to carry out costly repairs. They are unhappy with this and want to bring surveyors etc to the house which I have said they are welcome to.
My question is can I end the AST agreement before 12 months, as in the contract they signed it mentions that the agreement will come to an end if any part of rent is outstanding for 30 days or more. Could I end it and serve them a section 21 notice to get them out? Or should I wait for 8 weeks arrears and then go for a section 8?
It's very worrying as they seemed to be clued up on everything and I feel at the end of my tether now. Please help!!